Our Reverence for Christ’s Sacrifice

 “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭29‬-‭31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation was, “For continually eating and drinking with a wrong spirit will bring judgment upon yourself by not recognizing the body. This insensitivity is why many of you are weak, chronically ill, and some even dying. If we have examined ourselves, we should not be judged.” To partake of the Lord’s Body and Blood casually, irreverently or as a mindless routine, is to bring damnation upon ourselves.  To properly discern the Lord’s Body which was beaten and bruised for our healing, would mean to not be weak, sick or die prematurely.  We cannot be indifferent or underestimate what happened on the Cross, as we examine ourselves.  We cannot forget that we have been crucified with Christ.  We are freed from God’s judgement because as Paul explains, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  Hallelujah!

Christ Our Sabbath Rest

 “Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭56‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “Blessed is the one who will faithfully keep his commitment. Yes, blessed is the one who honors the Sabbath and does not disregard it, and the one who keeps their hands from doing evil.”  For believers today, our Sabbath is now a Man, the Lord Jesus Christ.  We have entered into the seventh day from Adam.  As Peter explained, “So, dear friends, don’t let this one thing escape your notice: a single day counts like a thousand years to the Lord YAHWEH, and a thousand years counts as one day.”  Now we enter into the rest of the finished work of the Cross.  We cease from our own labours and enter into His Sabbath rest.  “For it says in the Scriptures, And on the seventh day God rested from all His works. For God still has ordained a day for us to enter into called “Today.” For it was long afterwards that God repeated it in David’s words, “If only today you would listen to His voice and do not harden your hearts!” So we conclude that there is still a full and complete Sabbath-rest waiting for believers to experience. As we enter into God’s faith-rest life we cease from our own works, just as God celebrates His finished works and rests in them.”  Amen!

God’s Faithfulness through the Cross of Christ

 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation was, “We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.”  God’s faithfulness and grace will limit the severity of every test and prevent you from being tested beyond your ability to cope.  Unlimited grace is available for every believer who faces hardship, temptations and seasons of difficulty.  Trusting in God’s faithfulness is the way of escape that empowers us to overcome every difficulty we may experience.  We are not told that every difficulty will be removed from our lives, but that God’s grace provides an exit path.  God bears up under us to take us out of danger - that’s the way of escape so that we are empowered to endure it.  That is to say that God’s faithfulness gives us both the way of escape and the power to endure.  This has been made possible for us only because Jesus delivered us through the Cross.  What a faithful God we have.  Amen!

Jesus Christ - God’s Word

 “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “As the snow and rain that fall from heaven do not return until they have accomplished their purpose, soaking the earth and causing it to sprout with new life, providing seed to sow and bread to eat. So also will be the word that I speak; it does not return to Me unfulfilled. My Word performs My purpose and fulfills the mission I sent it out to accomplish.”  Snow is a picture of mercy blanketing the earth and rain is a symbol of revelation-teaching that soaks the heart, which is the soil, and makes us fruitful.  Snow, rain, water, seed, bread - all describe the Lord Jesus.  He is the Seed of the woman; He is the Living Bread that came down from heaven; He is the Word that was the Sent One, the Apostle of our faith.  He will accomplish all God’s pleasure.  God’s Word is His promise to show love, compassion and forgiveness to all who turn to Him.  It is God’s Word that makes our way prosperous.  God’s Word is powerful.  Let’s believe it.  Amen!

Motivated to Share Christ with Others

 “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation was, “I became “weak” to the weak to win the weak. I have adapted to the culture of every place I’ve gone so that I could more easily win people to Christ. I’ve done all this so that I would become God’s partner for the sake of the Gospel.”  Paul adapted culturally wherever he ministered, becoming all things to all different kinds of people.  His motivating principles were: that he always started by finding common ground with those he wanted to reach; he avoided projecting to others that he was a know-it-all; he accepted others regardless of his or her issues; Paul was sensitive to the culture of others; he used every opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ with people.  Paul so rejoiced in his personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, that he needed to share the Gospel with others!  May each one of us who have a personal relationship with our Lord and Master Jesus, that we will be excited to share with others of Who Jesus is and win many souls to Christ.  Amen!

The Body of Christ & the Glorious Bride of Christ

 “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “But I promise you, no weapon meant to hurt you will succeed, and you will refute every accusing word spoken against you. This promise is the inheritance of YAHWEH’s servants, and their vindication is from me,” says YAHWEH.”  Every accusation against the Blood-bought children of God is condemned.  In the previous chapter, Isaiah prophesied of the Servant of the Lord, Jesus Christ: His humiliation, His death, and the glory that followed.  Here we find the Servant has become many servants, a corporate Body of believers.  The Son has become sons.  The fulfilment of this prophecy is the corporate Church, the Body of Christ, and the glorious Bride of Jesus Christ.  This Bride has been vindicated and secured the righteousness of God Himself through the precious sacrifice - the Blood of the Lamb of God.  Amen!

Passionately Loving God to Know Him

 “Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation, “Now let me address the issue of food offered in sacrifice to idols. It seems that everyone believes his own opinion is right on this matter. How easily we get puffed up over our opinions! But love builds up the structure of our new life. If anyone thinks of himself as a know-it-all, he still has a lot to learn. But if a person passionately loves God, he will possess the knowledge of God.”  We all have knowledge that makes a person look important, but it is only through love that we reach our full maturity.  To put it simply, “love builds up.”  It builds up our lives, our churches, our families, and others.  Love is the most powerful substance for building what will last forever.  Everything else is of no value when there is no love - the God kind of love that is unconditional and knows no boundaries.  This is our hope.  “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.”  We trust in the love God has for us. God is love! Those who are living in love are living in God, and God lives through them.  Let’s passionately love God so that we may know Him.  Amen!

Only the Lord Jesus Christ

 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV

Isaiah prophesied, “Like wayward sheep, we have all wandered astray. Each of us has turned from God’s paths and chosen our own way; even so, YAHWEH laid the guilt of our every sin upon Him.”  Like wandering sheep, we have been self-deceived into waywardness.  See the mercy of the Godhead that the LORD interceded within Himself to orchestrate our salvation.  This entire chapter has such detail of the last hours of Jesus Christ, that it’s almost as if Isaiah was standing at the foot of the Cross and writing.  But it was written more than seven hundred years before the Cross and stated in the past tense as though this event had already happened.  There is no other person who could possibly fulfil all of Isaiah’s prophecy except the Lord Jesus Christ.  As Peter puts it, “In fact, you were called to live this way, because Christ also suffered in your place, leaving you His example for you to follow. He never sinned and He never spoke deceitfully. When He was verbally abused, He did not return with an insult; when He suffered, He would not threaten retaliation. Jesus faithfully entrusted Himself into the hands of God, Who judges righteously. He Himself  carried our sins in His body on the Cross so that we would be dead to sin and live for righteousness. Our instant healing flowed from His wounding.”  Thank You, Jesus!

The Faith of a Believing Spouse Makes a Difference

 “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The revelation to Paul, “For the unbelieving husband has been made holy by his believing wife. And the unbelieving wife has been made holy by her believing husband by virtue of his or her sacred union to a believer. Otherwise, the children from this union would be unclean, but in fact, they are holy.”  By implication, Paul is making the point that in marriages where one is a believer and one an unbeliever, the spouses should remain together, for the righteous faith of a believer makes the marriage holy.  Apparently, because of their desire to serve Christ, some believing Corinthians who had pagan spouses thought it best to divorce them and find believing spouses.  Paul corrects that error and affirms the marriage covenant.  In the old covenant, the entire family came into covenant with God.  Therefore, the children of even one believing parent are set apart for God.  God never forces or intimidates anyone to believe in Him.  God fully respects the free will He has given to all humans.  Let the faith of the believing spouse make the difference and bring the soul to Christ.  Amen!

Christ our Sin Bearer and His Resurrected Glory

 “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭52‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, ““Look! My Servant will prosper and succeed! He will be highly honored, raised up, and greatly exalted!”  Apart from the four Gospels, Isaiah from this section onwards gives the greatest description of the life, crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Although up till now, Isaiah prophesied Jesus as our true Prophet, Teacher and Victorious Redeemer, it was without telling of His death on the Cross.  But from this portion onwards, it is the prophecy about the Suffering Servant and Sin-Bearer Who died for us, and the glory that followed.  This is the obvious reference to Jesus Who was raised from the dead and highly exalted at the right hand of God. As Peter said, “This salvation was the focus of the prophets who prophesied of this outpouring of grace that was destined for us who believe.  They made a careful search and investigation of the meaning of their God-given prophecies as they probed into the mysteries of who would fulfill them and the time period when it would all take place. The Spirit of the Anointed One was in them and was pointing prophetically to the sufferings that Christ was destined to suffer and the glories that would be released afterward.”  Thank You, Jesus!